Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed his transfer from Inter Milan to Barcelona after signing a five-year contract, European champions Barca said on Monday.
The swap deal sends Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, valued at €20 million, to Inter and is worth more than €66 million.
Barca also said in a statement they were paying a separate €46 million fee and loaning Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to Inter for the season.
The Italian side will have the chance to buy Hleb for €10 million plus variables next year.
Ibrahimovic passed a medical earlier in the day, though Barca said the Swede had fractured a bone in his left hand during Inter’s recent friendly against Chelsea, and that treatment would be necessary.
He will be presented to Barca fans at the Nou Camp with his number nine shirt, later on Monday.
Eto’o flew to Milan earlier in the day and has passed the first of a two-part medical, Inter said.
Eto’o told the Inter website (www.inter.it): “I made history at Barcelona, but that history is finished now. A new story begins at Inter, I’m starting from scratch, I want a new adventure and I hope everything goes well.”
Ibrahimovic could make his first appearance as a Barca player against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday in the opening match of their tour to the United States.
He is a straight swap for Eto’o in the centre of Barca’s three-pronged attack, between Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, and will be out to help them defend their European, and domestic league and cup titles.
He is Barca’s third close-season signing behind Brazilian left back Maxwell, and Brazilian striker Keirrison, though the latter is to be sent out on loan.
FACTBOX: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Born Oct. 3, 1981 in Malmo, Sweden
EARLY CAREER
* The son of Balkan immigrants, Ibrahimovic plays for junior teams in the Malmo area before signing for Malmo in 1999.
* The towering but skilful forward moves to Ajax Amsterdam in 2001 and establishes himself as one of Europe’s most promising players, helping the club to the 2002 and 2004 league titles.
VOYAGE TO ITALY
* Signs for Juventus for a fee of around €19 million and helps the Turin side win Serie A in 2005 and 2006. He fails to shine in the Champions League, however.
* Juve have the two titles stripped and are demoted in a match-fixing scandal, prompting the Sweden international to join rivals Inter Milan with Patrick Vieira.
* He wins three Serie A championships with Inter and Juve fans never forgive him for leaving, controversially chanting ‘Gypsy’ at him whenever he plays against them.
RESTLESSNESS
* In 2009, Ibrahimovic lets it be known he is unhappy with Inter constantly flopping in the Champions League and says he has won everything he can in Italy.
* Ibrahimovic signs for Spanish and European champions Barcelona for €46 million.
As part of the deal Barca striker Samuel Eto’o, valued at €20 million, joins Inter together with Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb who moves to the Serie A side on loan for the season.
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